International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) Service

Create unique, persistent identifiers for physical samples – of any material, from anywhere in the universe.

Unique, Persistent Identifiers for Any Physical Samples

An International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) provides an unambiguous, globally unique and persistent identifier for physical samples. While originally designed for earth sciences, IGSNs are now domain-agnostic and suitable for samples of any material from anywhere in the universe. The IGSN system facilitates the location, identification and citation of physical samples used in research.

The ARDC IGSN Service enables Australian researchers to mint and assign IGSNs. This service is offered at no cost through DataCite under the ARDC DataCite Consortium.

Why IGSNs

For sample-based data to be useful in the long run, there must be metadata about the samples, links to other datasets derived from individual samples, and access to the samples themselves. However, there is often incomplete documentation of samples in publications, ambiguous sample names, and a lack of web-accessible catalogues that allow finding out about existing samples and their archiving location.

IGSNs present a solution by ensuring:

Efficient sample management

Finadable, available and consistently formatted metadata

Easy data sharing

Sample and research visibility

Standardisation

Linking

IGSNs and the FAIR Principles

IGSNs help make data FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable) by:

Findable

Providing a unique and persistent identifier that can be used to locate and access them

Accessible

Providing a means of accessing samples distributed across multiple repositories, as well as the metadata describing them

Interoperable

Providing a common standard for identifying and describing samples

Reusable

Enabling researchers to cite and reference samples with confidence

Use OurIGSN
ServiceToday.

Create globally unique, persistent and domain-agnostic identifiers for physical samples.

Create IGSNs

You can use our IGSN service after registering for the ARDC DataCite DOI Service.

If you’re already a user of the ARDC DataCite DOI Service, request a new IGSN repository to use our IGSN Service by emailing us.

Australian organisations minting IGSNs are also recommended to join IGSN e.V., the international organisation that governs IGSNs. This allows you to engage with the IGSN community and work on common standards for the samples and specimens community. Join IGSN e.V.

Information on this page is adapted from the IGSN e.V. website. Learn more about IGSNs on the IGSN e.V. website.